The Other Princess

by Denny S. Bryce

A stunning portrait of an African princess raised in Queen Victoria’s court and adapting to life in Victorian England—based on the real-life story of a recently rediscovered historical figure, Sarah Forbes Bonetta.

With a brilliant mind and a fierce will to survive, Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a kidnapped African princess, is rescued from enslavement at seven years old and presented to Queen Victoria as a “gift.” To the Queen, the girl is an exotic trophy to be trotted out for the entertainment of the royal court and to showcase Victoria’s magnanimity. Sarah charms most of the people she meets, even those who would cast her aside. Her keen intelligence and her aptitude for languages and musical composition helps Sarah navigate the Victorian era as an outsider given insider privileges.

But embedded in Sarah’s past is her destiny. Haunted by visions of destruction and decapitations, she desperately seeks a place, a home she will never run from, never fear, a refuge from nightmares and memories of death.

From West Africa to Windsor Castle to Sierra Leone, to St. James's Palace, and the Lagos Colony, Sarah juggles the power and pitfalls of a royal upbringing as she battles racism and systematic oppression on her way to living a life worthy of a Yoruba princess.

Based on the real life of Queen Victoria’s Black goddaughter, Sarah Forbes Bonetta’s story is a sweeping saga of an African princess in Victorian England and West Africa, as she searches for a home, family, love, and identity.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Africa, Audiobook, British Literature, Victorian

448 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2023

About the author

Denny S. Bryce is a best-selling, award-winning author of historical fiction. A former dancer and public relations professional, Denny is an adjunct professor in the MFA program at Drexel University, a book critic for NPR, and a freelance writer whose work has appeared in USA Today and Harper’s Bazaar. She is also a member of the Historical Novel Society, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Tall Poppy Writers. Originally from Ohio, she likes to call Chicago her hometown but currently resides in Savannah, Georgia. You can find her online at DennySBryce.com.

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Princess opens with a girl’s birth and with her mother naming her Aina (difficult) due to the difficulty with her birth. Aina is the daughter of a local king in Yoruba. Their village is attacked and she is torn from her family, most of whom were slaughtered. Her fate is to either be sold as a slave or be presented in sacrifice by the people who stole her. When the decision is made to sacrifice her, an Englishman present at the ceremony asks the king of the tribe for Aina. The Englishman, in turn, presents her to Queen Victoria, and the girl is raised in close companionship with Victoria’s children and renamed Princess Sarah Bonetta Forbes.

This book was an absorbing read with detailed descriptions of life in tribal nations and cities in Africa, residential schools run by missionary groups, and the missionaries' influence in Africa at the time. The book provides thorough accounts of life in Queen Victoria's residences and in upper-class homes and discloses some of Queen Victoria's imposing wealth and power in the world during that period. Highly recommend.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aina was the seventh child born to the queen and king of Egbado, from the town of Okeadon, they were part of the Yoruba tribe and lived in West Africa. The camp was guarded by the king’s soldiers day and night and they feared being attacked by slave traders and the Dahomey people and who were fierce warriors. When Aina was five it happened, her entire family was killed and she became a slave to king Gezo and her father's rival. Aina had the markings on her face and they knew she was a princess of Egbado, and two years later she’s rescued by Commander Forbes and he takes her back to England and 'gift's' her to Queen Victoria.

Aina name was changed to Sarah Forbes Bonetta, while at sea, Sarah learnt English and became good friends with a cabin boy called William. Once she’s in England, Sarah stays with host families, her majesty pays for her clothes, education, she becomes her guardian, later her godmother and Sarah was good friends with princess Alice and they got up to all sorts of mischief together.

Sarah was very smart, she did well academically, and she studied arithmetic, geography, and played the piano, checkers and backgammon. The things Sarah struggled with were the cold weather in England, constantly losing people she’s close to and she became reluctant to make friends and she’s scared of returning to West Africa. Queen Victoria had complete control over her life, had the final say and at times I found this confronting.

I received a copy of The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce from Allison & Busby and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Using real facts Ms. Bryce shares the remarkable life of a young girl, who witnesses the brutal deaths of her entire family, was a slave for two years and how she traveled to England and became the goddaughter of Queen Victoria.

Despite all the tragedy, setbacks and trials she experienced, Sarah was resilient, brave, funny, smart, proud of being a princess of Egbado and the special markings she had on her face and she went onto be a wife and mother and her eldest daughters hero. A women who we should all admire and she’s the perfect role model for younger women and especially those of colour.

This well written and researched novel gives the reader an enlightening look into what it was like to live during the time of Queen Victoria’s reign, from the point of view of a young African girl, who admired Jane Austen, Mary Seacole, Florence Nightingale and I loved reading about her relationship with princess Alice and how much she enjoyed riding in the pony cart.

Five big stars from me, I will never forget this powerful and thought provoking narrative about Aina princess of Egbado and a must read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. I couldn’t put it down. It’s so well done. I was not ready for the end.

This book tells the story of Princess Aina (better known as Princess Sarah Bonetta Forbes), and how she went from being the youngest daughter of a king to the god daughter of Queen Victoria of England. It’s so unbelievable that I’ve never heard of her until now, it’s such an amazing story. It opens with her birth and then walks the reader through what would be the first of so many losses and describes how, rescued on the brink of being sacrificed, she became the god daughter of the Queen Victoria- grew up as playmates with her her children.

This book describes the feeling of a child having grew up in Yoruba, seeing a white person for the first time, experiencing veiled and sometimes unveiled racism for the first time and not having any prior knowledge or experience with racism to be able to understand that her skin tone predisposed her to judgement in Great Britain. And despite these things, she loved the Queen and England. This book held so many of the complexities of humanity and it was moving to see her learn about and discover the world around her while navigating the traumas she faced from her past. This book did for me what any good historical fiction novel should, it inspired me to learn more about Sarah Bonetta Forbes. If I had any critique, it would be that the end was so swift moving and there was a bit of reading between the lines to understand what was going on. I assume this is due to the lack of information available about her life during this period and the author’s commitment to the facts. Either way. I still loved reading and learning about her life. I wish her existence was better known and this book is such a great step in that direction. I so appreciate being able to trust an authors research in historical fiction and Denny S Bryce did not disappoint. Even down to the stench of the Thames River - I went and had to find out if she was from Great Britain, but she is a very well researched American. I can’t wait to read more from her!

A special thanks to William Morrow and Company and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sydney Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a timely book, it's a well-told story of an incredible life, from the tone setting prologue to the end. Though the details were often quite shocking, I could picture Aina, aka Sarah, moving through life and captivity as a child, then showing amazing adaptability and aptitude, as well as just the right amount of stubbornness while she was in England. So many hard things happened to her, and yet she never gave up and never seemed bitter. This is the kind of based-on-truth story that needs telling right now, so good job to the publisher and to the author for this work. A definite recommended read.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 5 Stars Rounded Up

This was interesting. It dragged a bit in places. I don't understand the authors choice to have the main character hate Africa and love England🙃

There's connections to the West African end of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade but no linking to the fact that trade was created to feed European desires and needs.
It also deeply revels in this idea the British ended the slave trade and ignores that the British also had 'slavery by another name' in the Coolie system which simply substituted Asian folks for African folks.

Also downplayed the impact of the 'scramble for Africa', which would've deeply impacted Sarah's children. Would her daughter be as much of an Anglophile as her mother, given she was living out these genocidal policies. The British are guilty of multiple massacres, genocides and horrid oppression in Africa. South Africa was after all a fucking British colony during it's apartheid years🙃

Still, I enjoyed this look at historical character.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, as she was renamed when gifted to Queen Victoria, starts out her first life in her Yoruba tribe, named Aina by her father. It was a name that acknowledged the challenges he believed she would have in her life. He well-predicted her path. Before she had seen her first decade she was kidnapped, and nearly offered as a human sacrifice for a neighboring tribe's festival. Remarkably, England who was everywhere in those days had a Man On The Job. Watching the proceedings, he comes up with a Plan. She falls under the care of this English officer who provides an opportunity for her to keep breathing. Belonging to the queen of England. . .not as a slave, but as a gift. (um. . .yeah. semantics.)

The Other Princess A fascinating true story of a remarkable woman. I'm pleased Aina's story has made it to our bookshelves, and hope for more such discoveries as we break down the walls that keep our histories xenophobic and narrow-minded. Kudos to the authors, researchers and publishers who push against mainstream bias and prejudice. Go find those lost heroes and heroines we've never heard of, who have much to teach us like Princess Aina.

*A sincere thank you to Denny S. Bryce, William Morrow, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:33

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the true story of an African Yoruba Princess, Sarah Forbes Bonetta (aka Aina), who at just 7 years old was rescued from enslavement only to be "gifted" to Queen Victoria.

Based on a true story, Princess started out strong but my interest soon waned because Aina's new life in England was monotonous and uninteresting. Despite the blurb stating that she was used as "an exotic trophy to be trotted out for the entertainment of the royal court... to showcase Victoria’s magnanimity," Aina barely had any interaction with the Queen, and she definitely wasn't treated like a beloved goddaughter.

Of course, my heart ached for the real life Aina when she was taken from Africa and "gifted" to the Queen (I was appalled that this happened especially while the Queen and England were supposedly opposed to slavery by this time period), and that she faced so many tragedies as a young child in Africa and then later, racism and oppression in England.

This book has generated many amazing reviews (currently 4.31), so my 3 star rating is in the minority. There was too much contradictory information and unbelievable twists for my taste. Additionally, I get that the story started out from the perspective of a 7 year old, but in my opinion, the writing style did not mature and grow along with the character. Lastly, Aina grew up with nothing of her own but yet, she acted like a haughty, spoiled brat much of the time.

Before writing this review, I scrolled through all of the 4 and 5 star ratings feeling like I had read a totally different book. I enjoyed learning about the existence of Aina's character but unfortunately, it did not quench my curiosity about her life.

Location: 1843-1880 Africa and England

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Kenzie | kenzienoelle.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Sarah Forbes Bonetta, named Aina at birth, is a West African Yoruba princess and taken to England as a “gift” and goddaughter to Queen Victoria. This novel is based on a real woman, Sara Forbes Bonetta who had that exact story.

*The premise had so much promise but unfortunately this book didn’t completely work for me personally. This book felt very simple and surface level. It really felt to me like it was written for a YA audience, like it was the next step up from an American girl doll historical fiction book if that makes sense. I won’t go into spoilers but Sarah’s life was truly tragedy after tragedy and while she might’ve had all the earthly belongings she could’ve wanted as the goddaughter to the queen, being this token African girl stolen from her home and paraded in front of people to show the world that the Queen was anti-slavery is so far from a sweet life but the writing of this book just made it feel like I was reading a happy, go lucky princess book for the most part. Does that make sense?? And maybe that’s because for 95% of the book Sarah is a child and so it just feels simple from her point to view? I don’t know, but the writing didn’t seem to grow with her. I feel like I’m repeating myself, but at the end of the day it was a sweet ,simple story about a girl whose life was anything but sweet or simple and it just felt trite to me. I wish there would’ve been so much more depth.

*I think I would recommend this book to highschoolers who want to read more historical fiction or if you just want to read the facts of Sarah Forbes Bonetta‘s life. Judging from Goodreads, I’m the unpopular opinion🤷🏻‍♀️


Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for this gifted copy! Pub date: October 3, 2023

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and William Morrow, William Morrow Paperbacks. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Publishing: October 3, 2023
Series: Standalone
Pages: 400

This is a first time read by Denny S. Bryce, new author to this reader. Loving all things royal, I was delighted to have the opportunity to read “The Other Princess”. Having very little knowledge of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, I found the book very interesting but only touching on the surface of her life…not much depth. African Princess Aina witnessed the death of her entire family. Afterwards, she was taken captive by a sea captain and later rescued by Queen Victoria of England. She is then renamed Sarach, educated as an English woman and designated the godchild of the Queen. The book is based on a biographical/factual account of her life and how she faced adversities…even in situations concerning the Queen. If not already knowledgeable reading this African ward of Queen Victoria, this will be a book to consider although I wanted to have read a bit more depth into her life.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning histfic novel of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a true-life African princess raised as Queen Victoria’s goddaughter. From West Africa to Victorian England, Sarah struggles with racism and oppression as she seeks authentic love, home and identity. Gorgeously written, highly recommended!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a story of a young girl, daughter of an African tribal king, who survives the massacre of her family and enslavement to become the goddaughter of the queen of England. Somehow, I couldn’t like or connect with the main character whose youthful personality was so off-putting. Add to that the large amount of time spent describing galas, balls, weddings, etc. and the really condensed time spent on her adult life, I was left wanting something meatier.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC to read and review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I won this ARC on Goodreads. The only thing I knew about Sarah, Queen Victoria's "Goddaughter" is what I saw on the TV show Victoria, which is just she existed and other people raised her. Sarah was a daughter of an African King. Her family was murdered and for some reason she was spared but she became a slave of the new king. The British were trying to stop slavery and calm all of the fighting in Africa, as well as turn them all into Christians. The African king handed over one of the slaves as a present to Queen Victoria. Sarah was maybe six-ish when this happened. Queen Victoria just dictated that now she would live with this family, and now that family and also dictated whom she would marry. She was even sent back to Africa to do missionary work, which seems like that would have been traumatizing for her. While Sarah always had a roof over her head and new clothes, she had no choice in her life at all. It was a sad existence as she knew she always had to do whatever the Queen wanted. I could not put the book down. It was a great story. Obviously this is a fictionalized account but it has made me want to read more about Sarah which is why I love historical fiction.

-A child's mind can only hold on to tragedy for so long.

-"I wish he weren't dead, but most of the people I've known have died, so I expect death to come more often than not."

-"You are going to meet the queen of England. That is not a difficult girl's life but a brilliant child's future."

-I might have shared his enthusiasm if I hadn't been forced to change my name, clothing, and gods and become a gift to a queen I'd never heard of until a few days before.

-At twelve years old, I'd lived a hundred years and died a thousand deaths.

-I was a thing to be scrutinized, judged, and criticized.

-There was always someone somewhere, a queen or a king, who held my life like a puppeteer, making me dance on the stage with no music or audience to cheer me on.

-"Bad things always happen when you love too deeply."

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won an advanced copy of this book from Goodreads. The description caught my attention, and I was thrilled when my copy arrived. I absolutely love learning about real historical women who have sometimes been overlooked. It even inspired me to search for photographs of the real Sarah. This book is for fans of Jennifer Chiaverini 's Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker and Mrs. Grant an Madame Jule.

[Adena · Rating 2 out of 5]

To cut to the chase: While I think the historical settings, details and facts are decently researched, I was unsure how to feel about the author's interpretation of historical figures (i.e. how much was fact and how much was interpretation?). I really struggled to find Sarah an inspiring or admirable figure outside of her early life in enslavement. Which is saying something because who wants to disrespect the Ancestors who went through so much? No one!! But on God was Sarah making it difficult 😭. There's only so much "I hate Africa and damn near every black person I come across, please take me back to Imperialist monarchy where I belong" that I can take, even from a historically accurate standpoint. It was hard to reconcile the idea of her being "a bold, strong-willed black woman" when a lot of the time she was sulking, throwing tantrums or straight up rude to anyone who tried to help her (in this case I mean everyone African lol). In addition, her "character development" doesn't occur until last 70 pages, so it feels rushed and therefore artificial. Like, you have to EARN that kind of growth and the time skips at the end didn't allow for it to be natural. Also since it was at the end, that means you had to endure 350 pages her being insufferable 😭. Idk, I appreciate some of the insight but I don't think this was for me.

*Edit* Upon further reflection, I'd like to add that Sarah's personality wasn't the only shallow aspect of the novel, the content and events of the story felt superficial as well. Specifically, it doesn't feel as if anything of significance really happens in Sarah Bonetta Forbes' life outside of being the Queen's pet--I mean--ward. I feel like the author had an opportunity to dive deeper into what was happening politically between Britain and Africa, or even the rest of the British empire, to give readers something to think about, but instead the audience reads about pony rides and...not much else. Even within an African setting, the chance to talk about political and social struggles between "civilized/assimilated African bourgeois" and the traditional African tribes is completely wasted. If not much is known about the real Sarah Forbes, then this was the perfect chance to take liberties that would engage modern audiences and ideas (without becoming too unrealistic, it's a balance).

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the episode of Victoria that featured Sarah Forbes Bonetta and have been intrigued by her story ever since as I hadn’t heard of her until that episode aired. However, I never could find much on her.

To say I was PSYCHED when this book came up in NetGalley is an understatement.

My goodness, Bryce nailed this novel. As extraordinary as Bonetta’s life was, it truly is so tragic. All she went through as a child. You want to feel like her life was transformed by the Queen and could her situation have been worse? Especially side by side with what was happening to slaves in the US but, truly, she was still imprisoned by expectations as both a black woman and a ward of the queen. Her choices were deeply limited, if you can call them that.

Above all else, I’m so grateful that her story is being told.

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.25

Check out my blog post! https://www.literarypawspectives.com/...

I received an advanced copy of "The Other Princess" from the author and NetGalley in exchange for my candid thoughts.

Upon spotting this title available for review, I was instantly drawn in without a second's pause. My affection for historical fiction runs deep, especially when the narrative intertwines seamlessly with historical accuracy. "The Other Princess" fits this criteria, taking inspiration from the true story of Aina, who later was renamed Sarah Forbes Bonetta following her capture with the British. My own research during the reading process confirmed the novel's historical fidelity.

Aina, an African princess, endured heart-wrenching adversities at a young age, losing her entire family to a warring tribe. However, her life took an unforeseen turn when the British colonizers arrived. Recognizing her royal status, they spared her life, presenting her as a gift to Queen Victoria. Transported to England, Aina - now renamed Sarah (because Sarah is Christian name) - was coerced to renounce her native culture, religion, and language. She was immersed in English customs, introduced to the Bible, and converted to Christianity – all in anticipation of meeting Queen Victoria, who later officially became her godmother.

While Aina/Sarah's life was undeniably exceptional, it's essential to highlight the inherent issues of forced assimilation she underwent. "The Other Princess" offers insight on topics like White saviorism, mandatory cultural adaptations, and the effects of colonization.

Though I took pleasure in diving into this book, a few elements stopped me from deeming it a five-star read. My regular readers are well aware that a three or 3.5-star rating from me is far from a negative critique – a three-star book still stands out in its own right. As a voracious consumer of historical fiction, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was missing. While the book masterfully traces Aina/Sarah's journey, it often skimmed the surface. I longed for a richer depth. The narrative touches upon themes of racial discrimination and rights, yet I craved more profound commentary. If I had read this book earlier in my racial equity journey, I might have overlooked these subtleties. I ponder whether the author purposefully chose to spotlight Aina/Sarah's life, rather than delve into broader socio-political themes.

I enthusiastically urge readers to not only delve into this novel but to also explore the fascinating life of the real Aina/Sarah Forbes Bonetta.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
A fascinating account of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an enslaved African princess who spent two years in captivity before being "gifted" to Queen Victoria. Sarah was then transported to England, where she was taught the rules and etiquette of British royalty. Despite the gifts and attention of Queen Victoria, Sarah was given little control of her own destiny and struggled with her lack of freedom. Yet, throughout her life, she found a way to survive and overcome losses and open her heart to love.
A well researched captivating story of a historical figure I knew nothing about.

[Angelica Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Amazing! I love a good period piece and so I’m shocked I hadn’t heard Aina’s, renamed Sarah Forbes Bonetta, story before now. She struggles and experiences severe loss at a very young age then is “gifted” to Queen Victoria as her goddaughter. The historical research the author did is very evident in the book and I’m so happy about that. The way Aina’s story is described really pulls you in and makes you experience the gravity of the situations she goes through. A definite must read! Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to experience this book!

[Ellen Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce gives a vivid accounting and a superbly written novel. Not for the faint of heart, but a necessary read for everyone, with the historically accurate portrayal of slave traders and their practices, along with the heart-rending portrait of slaves daily life in Victorian times, even under the watch of a queen. The early childhood years are delved in much greater detail than after achieving adulthood and the decision to defy Queen Victoria before final acquiesce, yet this doesn't detract from in any way from the continuity or psychological trauma shown in later chapters.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very interested to read this novel about Sarah Forbes Bonetta. A few months ago I had listened to a podcast about her (History Chicks, episode 231, which also covered Dido Elizabeth Belle) and found Sarah to be a sympathetic and somewhat tragic character. This novel, while covering all the historical bases, seems to fall short of my expectations. The author is free, as all historical novelists do, to create an imaginary mindset for her. However I was disappointed that Sarah seemed to be so inwardly focussed and relatively shallow, even as she is our narrator. I think our author tried to show her character maturing, but I cannot say that she is fully successful in doing so. I enjoyed the scene in which she champions Mary Seacole, (also covered by the History Chicks), but the argument seemed a bit too protracted under the circumstances. I would have liked to have seen Sarah showing more compassion for others, even if the scope of activities she could actually do was limited. Otherwise, it was an interesting book and full of details of the times she lived in, both in Africa and Victorian England.
BTW if you, like me, like to go down all sorts of “rabbit holes” after reading historical fiction, I would recommend the resources that the History Chicks have put on their website for the episode cited, especially the paper done by a Brigham Young student, Megan Orr. It has lots of pictures that I didn’t see otherwise while googling her, including the sketch done by Captain Forbes shortly after she came into his care. https://thehistorychicks.com/episode-...

[Lit_Vibrations · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was rich in detail and history but the pacing really didn’t work for me. I was drawn in from the beginning but once I hit the halfway mark I found myself losing interest.

I don’t think historical fiction should only revolve around struggle or survival but this didn’t hit like I wanted. The first few chapters were complex and intense with Sarah who at the time was Princess Aina watching the decapitation of her family, becoming enslaved, and searching for her brother who she knew survived the invasion. But once Sarah was given to Queen Victoria we see her conform with her new surroundings which is where my interest began to decline.

The narrative explores Sarah’s personal and emotional struggles as she battles racism and systematic oppression, attempts to preserve the memory of her family, and find where she belongs in society. I did enjoy Sarah’s character she was very smart and brave even from a young age. Her brilliance and various talents is what provided her the royal privilege she’d become accustomed to.

Overall, the book was okay minus the pacing. I think the writing was decent and the author did well capturing the characters life and the era in which events occurred. So, if you’re into historical fiction you might enjoy this. Special thanks to the author and @williammorrowbooks for the gifted copy‼️

Rating: 3.75/5⭐️

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of her whole family, Aina, and her brother are the only ones left alive. With all the chaos and bloodshed she loses her brother. Her one hope is to find Dayo again. While running and hiding from those who would take her captive or kill her she makes a new friend from another tribe. Unfortunately, their friendship melts away like everything else.It is exciting to learn about an African Princess. Aina is only six years old. The marks on her face prove she is royal.

Before she leaves Africa, her name is changed from Aina to Sarah. Sarah means princess. However, that is not enough. Nothing can stop her from missing her homeland, Africa. New clothing or anything else can not stop her from missing Dayo too. Her whole life is changed. She has no way of knowing how the new people and place will affect her memories. Denny Bryce writes in a way that makes you feel like this is not fiction but the truth. My excitement over the book grew. I wanted to know just how Sarah would react to England and its people.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What an incredible story. The author did a fantastic job of bringing Sarah Forbes Bonetta to life. What I really enjoyed was the personality given to Princess Sarah! She was not this meek or humble young woman that one would expect. She knew her title of princess and “queen’s ward” and accepted nothing less. There was a slight shift in personality when Princess Sarah became older after having married, moving back to Africa, and having children and I wish the author would have gone a little bit more in depth with that.

This is my first time reading this author, but I plan to read some of her other works. I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction. It’s worth the read.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Good insight into the slave trade of the 19th century from the perspective of African against African. Also, a true story about an African princess that was captured, then released as a gift to Queen Victoria of England.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

well written, a vivid setting, and an unlikable, vain and bragging, self centered main character that is written like a mini adult instead of a child.

[Theresa Turnsek · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Princess tells the story of the birth of a young African Princess named Aina(difficult) due to the difficult birth because the baby's cord was wrapped around the baby's throat that almost killed mother and child. Aina is the last child born to Queen Kayin and the local King of Yoruba. When Aina was five years old, her village is attacked and she witnesses the slaughter of her parents and sibling's. She survived the attack because she was the youngest of the King Of Yoruba family and was sent away to another tribe to be either sold into slavery or be sacrificed by her attackers. She was rescued from enslavement at seven years of age and presented to Queen Victoria as a gift and became the Queen's godchild. Her name was changed to Princess Sara Bonetta Forbes and was raised with the companionship of Queen Victoria's children, especially Princess Alice.
Sara was a bright and intelligent child that had a great aptitude for languages and musical composition that helped her navigate the Victorian era as an outsider given insider privileges.
She resided at various homes of Aristocrats during her stay in England and faced many prejudices.
She eventually marries a wealthy Sierra Leone-born merchant, James Davies and returns to Africa and has four children(one dies infancy).
I had read that Queen Victoria had an African born Princess as a Godchild and I was very interested in learning about the Princess. I thoroughly enjoyed this well researched novel and highly recommend reading the book.
I wish to thank Harper Collins Publisher/Vincent Shiron for giving me the opportunity of reading this uncorrected proof that I received as a Giveaway thru Goodreads.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jayne Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I think this would have suited me better if I’d gotten through it more quickly. It definitely suffered from being a little long with more detail than was necessary. However, it’s an interesting story based on the true life of a girl who was taken prisoner when her village was raided and was about to be sold to a slave trader. Instead, she was essentially plucked out of line and taken to England to live as a godchild of the queen, where she became a member of the British aristocracy. I love historical fiction that closely aligns with someone’s real life.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid example of what historical fiction should be. Just a touch slow at times, but I learned so much and Bryce writes Sarah so well.

[Dadou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!